Growth trend of Moldova's mobile phone services users continued in 2017

Chisinau, 03 March /MOLDPRES/ – The mobile telephony market continued to grow in 2017 as far as number of users increased and revenue declined, previously. The total number of users exceeded a new threshold of 4.5 million and total volume of sales decreased by over MDL 100 million, according to statistical data of National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI).

The number of users of mobile telephony services increased by 0.7 per cent compared to 2016. At the end of 2017, out of a total of 4.5 million users, 3 million 663 thousand were active users of this type of telephony, and 797 thousand passive users (which did not consume or pay for a mobile phone service over previous three months).

According to the ANRCETI’s information and media communication service, data provided by the operators, average monthly voice traffic decreased insignificantly, by 1.9 per cent per user, and the total volume of sales of mobile telephony services decreased by 3 per cent and comprised MDL 3 billion 337.6 million.

The specialists of ANRCETI explain regression in dynamics of voice and sales traffic on mobile telephony market by changing mobile users' consumer preferences to alternative internet communications solutions that are cheaper or free of charge (Skype, Viber etc.) as well as launch by operators of more cost – effective price offers for consumers.

The penetration rate of mobile services per 100 inhabitants increased by 0.94 percentage points in 2017 and reached the 125.6 per cent threshold. This indicator shows that on average one hundred Moldovans return over 125 SIM cards purchased from mobile providers, which means that some users have two or more cards.

(Reporter V. Bercu, editor M. Jantovan)